Santa Monica Tops List Of Priciest Destinations In Calif.

More than 100 Irish motorcyclists arrive at the Santa Monica Pier in Santa Monica, California, on October 6, 2010, as part of a 2,448-mile (3940 kilometers) Route 66 ride to raise money for Temple Street Children's Hospital in Dublin, Ireland. AFP PHOTO / GABRIEL BOUYS

(Photo credit: GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images)

SANTA MONICA (CBSLA.com) — When it comes to pricey stays in the Golden State, the city of Santa Monica is now number one, according to a survey released Tuesday.

The survey from CheapHotels.org compared hotel rates in the top 30 destination cities throughout California during peak tourist season — from Memorial Day and Labor Day — and found Santa Monica tops the list with an average rate of $213 per night for the least expensive double room.

The small Napa Valley town of Calistoga came in second at $184 per night and Catalina Island was third at $178 per night for the most affordable room, respectively, according to the survey.

Laguna Beach in Orange County ranked fourth with a $154 average nightly rate.

By comparison, two of the state’s most populous cities — Los Angeles and San Francisco — ranked in the middle of the pack, with average rates of $109 and $103, according to CheapHotels.com.

The survey was conducted based on the average daily rate for the site’s cheapest available double room at a 2-star hotel from May 26 through Sept. 1, 2014.

Click here for a full list of the most expensive destinations in California.